Albania: Festivali i Këngës 60 hosts and format unveiled

Wednesday, 08 December 2021

• RTSH has unveiled the hosts and the format of the upcoming 60th edition of Festivali i Këngës, the show that will determine Albania's Eurovision 2022 representative. 

  The organisers of Festivali i Këngës have revealed the host of the Albanian national selection for Eurovision 2022 along with the format according to which the selection shows will unfold. 

  Ardit Gjebrea will be the primary host of this year’s Festivali i Këngës and will be accompanied by Jonida Maliqi, Xhemi Shehu, Klevi Kadilli and Isli Islami. In addition Jonida Maliqi, winner of Festivali i Këngës 2018 and representive of the nation at Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv , will also take the stage as an interval act of the show.

  Festivali i Këngës 60 will unfold over three nights with the first show taking place on December 27. During the first evening the competing acts will perform their entries, while in the second night of the show taking place on December 28. In the second evening of the competition the act will perform past Festivali i Këngës songs with the organisers aiming to spotlight the festival's history. The festival will conclude with the third night on December 29, during which the final winner and the next Albanian Eurovision representative will be determined. 

  While last year's edition took place in open air and was the first year not to see a live orchestra performing in the show and not take place in Palace of Congresses in Tirana, due to the covid-19 circumstances. However, it remains unknown if the show will return to its traditional base or if an outdoor loction will be chosen again. 

  20 entires  will compete in the Albanian national selection, which you can listen to by clicking on the songtitles: 

  • Alban Ramosaj –“Theje” (Crush)
  • Denis Skura – “Pse nuk flet, mama?” (Why don’t you talk, mum?)
  • Eldis Arrnjeti – “Refuzoj” (I refuse)
  • Evi Reci – “Me duaj” (Love me)
  • Endri & Stefi – “Triumfi i jetës” (The triumph of life)
  • Ester Zahiri –“Hiena” (Hyena)
  • Gjergj Kaçinari – “Në ëndërr mbete ti” (You remain in dreams)
  • Janex – “Deluzional” (Delusional)
  • Kastro Zizo – “Kujë” (Mourn)
  • Kelly – “Meteor”
  • Kejsi Rustja –“Vallëzoj me ty” (I dance with you)
  • Mirud – “Për dreq” (Damn)
  • Olimpia Smajlaj – “Dua” (I want)
  • Rezarta Smaja – “E jemja nuse” (The bride of mine)
  • Ronela Hajati – “Sekret” (Secret)
  • Sajmir Çili –“Nën maskë” (Under the mask)
  • Shega – “Një” (One)
  • Urban Band –“Padrejtësi” (Injustice)
  • Viola Zhemali –“Eja si erë” (Come as the wind)
  • Xhuliana Pjetra – “Baladë” (Ballad)

   

  Albania in Eurovision 

  In 2004 Albania participated for the first time in the contest  with Anjeza Shahini and the entry “The Image of You”, which came 7th . The country hasn’t scored a victory yet in its 16 participations up to date. Its best result was achieved in 2012 with Rona Nishliu and her 5th placing in Baku with her song “Suus”. 

  In 2019 Jonida Maliqi won the Festivali i Kenges 2018   and became the 16th Albanian representative in Eurovision. Her song Ktheju Tokes ended in the 17th place of the Grand final. In 2020 Arilena Ara won the national final and was set to perform her song Fall From Sky on the Eurovision stage in Rotterdam, but saw her journey end early, due to the coronavirus outbreak as the contest was cancelled . 

  This year, Anxhela Peristeri, won the 59th edition of Festivali i Kenges with her song "Karma" and went on representing the nation in Rotterdam, where after qualifying to the final she finished 21st with a total of 57 points. 

  News Source: RTSH

  Image: festival i kenges instagram